Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Giggling Marlin
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| If our food, drink and... service aren't up to you standard, please... lower your standard. |
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Ian Bradley: The Man Who Will Dress The World
The first time I met this young fashion stylist I was waiting in a line and trying to get in one the best (if not “The Best”) clubs of Gotham: Le Bain. Those who party hard in the Big Apple know the face, and most of the time the name, of this talented and brilliant character that is Ian Bradley.
Besides being “the face” of this NYC hot spot, Ian is also a fashion stylist whose notoriety is growing every day a little bit more to the extent that I could bet with you that he will very soon become a major figure of the fashion scene.
Ian has an innate sense of style. When he was four, he once said to his teacher that she should change her shoes because the ones she was wearing did not match her outfit. How cute? Now his style speaks for itself.
Ian has been styling since his childhood. First, for two of his biggest fans: his grandmother and his mother. Later, for mass-market brands amongst which the trendy Japanese brand Uniqlo, Levi’s and Adidas.
Alda Mori: Ian, 2011 is over and 2012 has just begun. So, what did you learn in 2011?
Ian Bradley: Although I have been working really hard over the past years both styling and doing the door, I truly realized in 2011 that hard work is paid off and pays off.
A. M.: And what do you expect to learn in 2012?
I. B.: I could enjoy some business classes and learn to be business savvy.
A.M.: Tell us a little bit more about you and your debut in the fashion world.
I.B.: I left Washington D.C. for New York City when I was 18 years old to study fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.). Soon after my arrival, I started attending a lot of downtown parties. At the age of 19, and while I was still studying, one of my friends once asked me to cover for him at the door of the Lit Bar. I needed money so I thought why not. Some time later, the doorman of the Misshapes gigs, who heard about my performance, asked me to cover for him while he was out of town. After that, the word spread and the next thing I knew I was doing the door for the 205, then the Webster Hall and eventually Le Bain.
A.M.: How did your door activity help your fashion styling aspirations?
I.B.: I got my first big styling gig with one of POP magazine’s stylist after Katy Grand’s former assistant found me at a party I worked at. It is this first eight-month experience that really got my feet into high fashion styling. Of course, styling and doing the door nest a lot. I met many up and coming designers like Alexander Wang but also many friends who ended up filing editor positions in magazines and calling me for styling.
A.M.: Who did you style for?
I.B.: I mainly work for Uniqlo and frequently contribute to Vice Magazine and Fader Magazine. In the past, not only did I style for random publications and cosmetics ads, but I also had the great opportunity to work with Levi’s.
A.M.: Where do you find your inspiration?
I.B.: My primary source of inspiration is my close circle of friends. Some of them don’t even think they are fashionable. I feel however truly inspired by certain things they do such as the way they tie their sweatshirt while dancing like they don’t care. Then, I leave in the greatest city. That helps a lot finding inspiration. For instance, a 70 year-old woman walking in the street with a crazy headscarf will inspire me. A 5 year-old who buttoned his jacket wrong will also inspire me because it looks really cool. I focus on originality, as I want to avoid the déjà vu. I therefore reference National Geographic and old magazines such as Life Magazine instead of anything current that would be redundant.
A.M.: Who would you love to style for in the future?
I.B.: I like mass fashion but I also like minimalism. So obviously, I would love to create, style and direct for a company such as GAP, which to me has the potential to be an A.P.C. for the mass, minimal and classy, selling good sweaters and good jeans. If you take a look at GAP commercials in the mid-90’s, the way they were casted, you will understand what I mean. It is just white button up jeans but still it is minimal and clean. Of course, I would not turn down an offer from Levi’s. These are two strong American brands I would really enjoy to work for.
A.M.: What was your best photo shoot?
I.B.: I had many good experiences since I started in this industry but the best one, which is very recent, was for an Adidas video. I have known the video director, Gordon Hull, forever and some of the models were my friends. The photographer assigned to this job was young. I had never met him before. In the end, it was simply a good creative team, full of energy, who did an amazing job while having lots of fun.
A.M.: And the worst?
I.B.: My worst photo shoot dates back to my first job as an assistant. We were shooting in a park, in the middle of summer. The location was about a mile and a half away from the stylist’s apartment. So I had to bike, back and forth, every time the stylist forgot something and obviously he kept forgetting things. That day, braving the summer heat, I made six trips on his bike with him calling me and telling me “I need this now!”. Since that was my first shoot I thought they were all going to be like that. Fortunately, experience proved me wrong. Still, it was a blessing that my first photo shoot was that awful because it made everything look fine after that.
A.M.: What can one wish you for the years to come?
I.B.: Without any hesitation, to become a creative director for a mass apparel clothing company. I want to dress everybody, not just fashionistas. I want 8 year-old to see a commercial and whish to dress like that. But I also want a 50 year-old lady from Park Avenue to feel the irresistible urge to buy all those T-shirts. I want to conquer the world. I want to dress the world!
Monday, January 2, 2012
New Year's Eve Rapture
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| Blondie - Top of the Standard 2012 New Year's Eve Party |
When I was a kid, I used to spend my summer holidays in the north of Portugal. Our house was located in a small village inhabited mainly by old people. You can easily guess how dreary my summers were, until one year I found an unsuspected treasure in my parent's room: a record player and a box full of 45 tours records.
I bargained with my parents (I cried and screamed until they agreed) and took my new toy to my room. I spent that all day dancing and singing yogurt Modern Talking. The following day, after breaking my parents' ears screaming "Oh macumba, macumba, elle danse tous les soirs"*, I came across a gem: a Blondie disk!
I simply fell in love with Heart of Glass and the charismatic slutty version of Barbie on the cover and played the same song all over again until the end of the summer. I remember looking at the cover and stealing make-up in my mother's room to try to look like Debbie Harry.
Until last week, I always dreamt of seeing the woman whose image and voice had turn that tedious summer into a rock'n roll holiday, that icon whose style remains to me so inspiring.
Well, I eventually realized my dream on the new year's eve. Blondie performed a short concert at the Top of the Standard and I was there. And I saw her.
She sang Rapture.
And I sang in her microphone, for a second when she sang New York, New York. And I felt like the little girl that I was, a little thing full of dreams and faith in the future, in my future.
Alda Mori
*Macumba by Jean-Pierre Madère
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Koons, Cattelan and Roat
I have never been fond of contemporary art.
I tried. I really tried.
But I can't take it seriously.
When I think contemporary art, I see Roat Romano Chucalescu.
Roat Romano Chucalescu is the archetype of the contemporary artist who will shit on a canvas, pretend it's art and sell it a fortune.
Just check this video* and you will totally get the point ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0WoW7hbOWA). I am sorry for those who don't speak/understand French. I will try to have it translated because it is hilarious.
Some quotes are memorable !
"I do not go to the canvas. The canvas comes to me." or "I am a deconstructor of timelessness."
Yeah, I see you laughing behind your screen... Go ahead, it's good for your abs.
In other words, to me the contemporary artist was personified by Koons. The man was a broker used to sell crap, who married the Cicciolina.
He sells plastic lobsters and everybody screams : "Genius!"
Come on.
An artist** once said :
"Someone once told me that it (art) was very profitable profession...
Extract from a NY Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/arts/design/26private.html?_r=1&ref=arts)
"There is, at least, a certain amount of respect. This is one profession in which I can be a little bit stupid, and people will say, "Oh, you are so stupid; thank you, thank you for being so stupid"."
Yes, to me contemporary art and the contemporary artist were all contained in this quote.
But recently, I had a sort of revelation (not about Koons, of course).
Last Sunday, despite the cold, I went to the Cattelan exhibition at the Guggenheim. At first, I was not really enthusiastic about it.
But what I saw was just incredible. For once there was a meaning (to me at least).
I don't know. I was just captivated.
All these sculptures hanging from the museum's rotunda seemed so real. There was no cohesiveness but still it was absolutely fascinating.
I must however admit that the taxidermied horses, donkeys and dogs made me feel uncomfortable.
But I guess I come from very far...
Alda
* Les Inconnus (L'Artiste Peintre)
** Maurizio Cattelan
Monday, December 19, 2011
The last minute wish list of a broke girl : my letter to Santa
Dear Santa,
I know you are broke this year.
Like the year before... and the year before the year before.
I am aware that you have to deal with economic challenges. The global crisis, the increasing costs of your workforce (I heard you had to layoff many elves), your divorce from Mrs. Claus (momanager), etc.
Plus, I am not sure I behaved really well...
That is why I have decided to send you a very reasonable wish list this year :
Claudie Pierlot Pink sweater (€195 / approx. $253)
AGATHA skull ring (€100 / approx. $130)
Diptyque Vetyverio Eau de Toilette ($88)
The KOOPLES « Skull Bikeuse » T-Shirt (€65 / approx. $85)
SUNO Sneakers ($65)
Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (approx. $55)
ANTHROPOLOGIE Curvy Chrysanthemum Vase ($28)
ANTHROPOLOGIE Wire-Wrapped Magnifying Glass ($16 and $20)
ANTHROPOLOGIE Tagged Bouquet Journal ($14)
Santa, if you could please bring me one or two of these items, I swear I will be nice next year !
Alda Mori
P.S. 1: Santa I took the liberty of indicating the prices so you can realize how happy you can make me with very affordable gifts.
P.S. 2: I swear I am not an ANTHROPOLOGIE secret agent.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
When Lady Gaga Meat Kumagai
This morning, I read AM New York. As usual. After a quick review of the bloody news, what do I see on page 14?
Lady Gaga and her raw meat dress and shoes. I am sure you remember this horror she wore for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.
In case you don't, here is a reminder.
Let me tell you that the mere thought of the perfume of fresh meat at 7.30 a.m. makes me want to throw up.
This said, what a coincidence?
The night before I was reading a book (very nice by the way) about vintage shoes* when I made a major discovery: the meat shoe is no novelty and the Gaga did not invent the wheel!
My reddish sleepy eyes cannot believe it; the first meat shoes date back to 1984, when a Japanese fashion designer, named Tokio Kumagai, created a collection called "Shoes to eat", inspired by the artificial food that restaurants in Japan display in their windows.
Not that I would dream to walk on high heel steaks, but still I am fascinated by the fact that at some point someone even thought about it! This is the genius of the creative process.
At first disturbed by this image, I ended up wondering what's the difference between walking on beef's meat pumps and walking on the beef's skin shoes and wearing beef's skin bags? It is almost the same, isn't it?
I have profound late night digressions sometimes...
Anyway, I don't think that the plastic food inspired such deep thoughts to Kumagai.
Animal lovers from all over the world, be reassured. Contrary to Lady Gaga, Kumagai did not seem to enjoy meat enough (or maybe his nostrils and stomach were too sensitive to endure the smell) to have his creations done with real raw meat. Actually, they were created with acrylic or resin. So I say bravo!
I am not sure I could wear meat shoes, but ice cream sundaes... that's another story!
Alda Mori
*"Vintage Shoes" by Caroline Cox, Collins Design (page 186)
Monday, December 12, 2011
Magazines' Overdose
JFK Airport. Friday night.
I have one hour to kill before boarding. I go to the newsstand to buy some magazines. A 5 hours flight can be quite long, so I’d better have something to do.
Let’s see what we have here ?
« Kim’s revenge », « Kourtney alone », « Khloe starts In Vitro », « Blast Fat Fast », « Fight fat », etc., etc., etc.
Humm. Not really exciting, especially after a quick review of the content (mainly commercials).
Given the apparent wide-range of choice, I was expecting to find something to suit my taste (at least for 5 hours). I am disappointed.
This is not the first time. I already experienced this feeling of saturation few weeks ago... at JKF. A coincidence? No.
The diagnosis is pretty simple. I am suffering from a M.O.: a magazines’ overdose.
The causes?
The covers make it obvious. I am just sick of all these papers that, besides being pretty much all the same, repeat themselves every year, invariably, along with the seasons.
Summer: «Look great in your bikini!»
Fall: «Keep your summer glow!»
Winter: «Avoid gaining pounds!»
Spring: «Get rid of your winter extra pounds!»
Not to mention the commercials. Omnipresent.
I am curious. While at the newsstand, I pick randomly a 300 pages magazine and engage into the fastidious counting of the number of commercials.
The verdict? At least 160 pages of commercials and about 100 of indirect ads (« Jane Doe is wearing XY shoes. Price: lots of $»).
How many articles? Not that much.
I should have taken the September issue of The Gentlewoman and The Purple Magazine! I swear I am not paid to say that but I really like these two mags not only because of the edge of the articles but also because even the commercials are cool and aesthetic. You learn while you dream. Isn’t it the reason why we buy magazines?
Judging by the front pages, I am afraid that the answer is no.
Apparently, now we buy magazines:
1°) To get rid of 10lbs. In three days…
2°) To know everything about the new science miracle that will help us get rid of our first wrinkle.
3°) To master the 10 best sex positions; and (last but not least).
4°) To become the Queen of the BJs.
My brain just says «STOP !!!!!!!» because guess what:
1°) Ladies, if we want to loose lbs, there is no miracle solution! We have to eat healthy and exercise (and I really hate to say that).
2°) Although I would love to think that we can stop time, unfortunately we cannot fight against the natural process of ageing (of course, you can use Botox, but I do not recommend this option unless your dream is to look like Amanda LePore or the Beverly Hills housewives).
3°) I know nobody who reached an orgasm with one leg around her/his boyfriend’s neck and her/his butt on a frozen sink (maybe because 99% of us are not contortionists).
4°) Ask any man. A good blow job is no science. Any dude would say: «Don’ t bite, open your mouth, blow and swallow.» Love is a plus (of course).
Now I am starting to sweat because I have a feeling (oooh oooh) that the flight is not going to be a good flight.
Time is out. A voice is calling on the microphone.
I have got to board.
Alda Mori
(Non Exhaustive) Bibliography:
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/tips-moves/how-to-give-a-blow-job
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/sex-and-relationships
http://www.glamour.com/sex-love-life
http://www.shape.com/weight-loss
http://www.shape.com/weight-loss
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